Sanitary and phytosanitary issues for trade in horticultural crops.
Rajan, Kavita Gupta, Khetarpal R. K.
Author Affiliation: Plant Quarantine Division, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi 110 012, India.
: 422-443
Abstract : The liberalized trade policies of the governments/WTO have put a big responsibility on quarantine personnel for properly achieving their objectives of excluding the exotic pests or to carry out eradicative measures. The risk of pest introduction and means to stop the establishment of these pests into new areas continue to be the major concern of phytosanitary/quarantine officials. Unless proper phytosanitary measures are taken, pests could get transported all over the globe, become established in new areas and devastate fruit and vegetable production. However, there are tremendous opportunities to the growers involved in export of fruits or planting materials to boost the national economy if they meet the international quality standards and overcome phytosanitary constraints. The recent lifting of ban by China and Australia on imports of mango and grapes from India was achieved by proper implementation of regulations and development of acceptable disinfestation techniques, which is a good beginning in this direction. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has set up 48 export processing zones in the country so far. A mechanism needs to be developed through a network system (1) for adoption of these zones by researchers for undertaking export promotional research so that exports from these zones meet international sanitary and phytosanitary standards, (2) for production and export from pest free areas, and (3) for monitoring mechanism needed for maintenance of pest free status of these areas. With an increase in the horticultural production by almost three folds, over the last fifty years, India needs to now focus its attention on diversification and export promotion. Likewise, specifications of quality/codex standards for export of indigenous fruits also need to be developed. Active participation by India in IPPC, Codex Alimentarius meetings to negotiate for reasonable standards would also give the necessary push to trade in horticultural material. All this is possible if the government agencies involved in sanitary and phytosanitary issues work in complete coordination with each other, to achieve international standards which would ultimately boost exports of horticultural commodities.